Our Ethos

Powderkeg is a microbrewery fuelling micro-rebellions. We offer a gentle reminder that life is not all about striving and surviving – there is beer to be drunk, pleasure to be had and dreams to follow.

Beer has inspired countless artists and great thinkers. It brings people together to cut loose, have a good time and put the world to rights. Together we might just share a moment of happiness or, sometimes, we might decide to change the world.

This is the Powderkeg Plot. Come conspire with us.

Our Brewery

Powderkeg is an independent family business based in the Devon countryside established on 5 th November 2014. We are a small but mighty team, headed up by co-founders John and Jess Magill.

Our brewery is a 20BBL brewhouse with 35,000 litres of fermenting capacity and in-house packaging for can, keg and cask. We also have a 100– litre pilot kit which can be used for R&D experiments or just plain stupid/fun stuff.

We care about people and planet, and make sure our business is as sustainable and ethical as it can be. You can read our sustainability policy here (link).

Our People

John: The business brain and head brewer. A wannabe slacker who had this whole crazy idea in the first place. Fond of all-day cooking sessions, slow things and Japanese art.

Jess: tends to all things brand, marketing and collaborations. Loves dancing, DJing, sea swimming and summer.

Josh “The Striking Viking.” Our lead brewer, who is into braggots, shanties, faux-pessimism and axes. What a combo. Always in shorts.

Lewis: In charge of sales, logistics and keeping customers happy. The most friendly and helpful person you might ever meet. Enjoys outdoor cooking, good craic and double-dinnering.

Bryn: Delivery driver and dog-dad to Ben, the gentle giant. Likes a good chinwag and a G&T on a Friday. And a Thursday. And a Wednesday actually.

Paul: Works for fun. Loves taking the mick and totally pulling off dressing like a Guy Richie gangster.

Our Story

John and Jess met in London in 2001 and ended up in Devon via Sydney, Bristol and Somerset.

It was 2006 when John decided to become a brewer. He had already had a beard for a couple of years and it was just going unappreciated in his uninspiring ‘executive’ job. He also had a microbiology degree just gathering dust, so he found an opening and spent six years learning the art of brewing.

When fresh excitement about craft beer started to spread across the UK, Devon sorely needed a modern local champion, so we hatched a plan, took a leap of faith, and started Powderkeg to lead the revolution.

Our Beer

For over 10 years we’ve been making flavour-packed beers that our customers return to time and time again. The secret? Completely independent, brewer-owned and run, we are masters of our craft and genuine beer lovers. We only make the beers we want to drink and that we are genuinely proud of. Beers that satisfy our curiosity, creativity and thirst.

We’ve spent years honing our skills, and the results speak for themselves- numerous top national and international awards, and plaudits from all corners of the beer world. But Free- Thinking Beer doesn’t rest on past success; we are constantly learning, tweaking and improving to make sure that the next PK in your hand is the best it can be.